Today's Order of Business is Item 1, Committee Stage of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill, 1993, from now to 6 p.m. Item 30 will be discussed from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the Adjournment Matters will be taken at the conclusion of business.
Order of Business.
I ask the Leader of the House to have a full debate on Northern Ireland next week, if possible. I asked him to do so last week and he said he was willing in principle but he could not give the House a specific guarantee. All sides of the House would like an opportunity to discuss events in Northern Ireland and in this part of the country since our debate on the Downing Street declaration.
Could the Leader of the House also allocate time next week to discuss Item 31, the report titled "A Crusade for Survival" which was mentioned last week? All parties agreed then that the matter should be debated at length in the Seanad. There is a certain urgency about the matter and the Leader should move quickly in relation to it.
Could the Leader make time available tomorrow to discuss Item 32, a motion in the names of the Independent Senators? There would be agreement in the House to that matter being discussed if only for one hour tomorrow. It has not been discussed in the other House or in Committee, as far as I know. The Independent Senators might prefer more than one hour for the debate. However, in anticipation, I wish to make my support on the matter known.
During the past weeks the social partners have discussed the new programme — the Programme for Competitiveness and Work — which will be launched next Monday afternoon. As the programme will determine the country's direction in many areas over the next three years, it would be appropriate to have a detailed report and full discussion on it in the House as soon as possible. I ask the Leader to consider having such a discussion either next week or the week after. It would be in our interest if Members of the House were briefed on what is planned and if they understood the operation of the programme.
There is an outstanding commitment since before Christmas that the Leader of the House will make time available — and the matter has been raised on a number of occasions since — for another discussion on the marine and associated matters. It need not be a long debate, although when it was last discussed many Members did not have the opportunity to participate and most who spoke were unable to develop their points. There have been developments in the marine sector in the intervening period and we need another opportunity to discuss it.
Finally, I again ask the Leader of the House to outline a programme of work for the coming months. It is important that we know what is happening with regard to legislation. The other House will be concerned with the Finance Bill for a long period. This is a critical time for the initiation of legislation and this House should claim that task. There is a need for organisation and the Government Departments should indicate what legislation is planned. Legislation which is already prepared should be introduced in this House and should not be delayed in order to allow the Finance Bill go through the other House. That causes a problem every year, with the result that legislation is forced through at the end of the session. I urge the Leader of the House to reach an understanding with the Government Departments that such legislation will be initiated here.
My request to the Leader of the House echoes Senator O'Toole's first statement with regard to Programme for Economic and Social Progress 2 and what will emerge from it. It seems extraordinary that a cosy tea party takes place in Merrion Street where the social partners wander in and out while the elected representatives do not seem to have any input into the process.
The Senator need not worry. I represent his interests there.
Senator Dardis, without interruption.
The Senator represents a slightly different interest to that of the Houses of the Oireachtas.
I have ensured that the Gleeson report will be implemented for everybody's benefit.
Senator Dardis please, without interruption.
I am always prepared to place my trust in Senator O'Toole but I have some reservations about his capacity to represent my particular interests.
The farmers did all right.
It is essential that this House debates the matter even at this stage. It is quite extraordinary in a parliamentary democracy that Parliament seems to be the last place consulted about this matter and that public representatives elected to the Houses do not have an input to the Programme for Economic and Social Progress.
The other matter I wish to raise relates to Private Members' Business this evening, the motion on residential property tax. In view of the interest in this matter would the Leader be prepared to extend the time, even by a quarter of an hour? As the Cathaoirleach is aware, we have been running into difficulties. In this instance we need to leave time to explore the differences between the Government parties on this issue.
It is on the television every evening. The Senator must not be watching the television.
For that reason we need extra time. I support Senator Mannings's call for a debate on Northern Ireland. My request would have been more specific and would relate to section 31 of the Broadcasting Act, but that can be dealt with in the overall debate. Once again we have a major decision taken during a parliamentary recess and Parliament did not seem to have any input. That strikes me as being antidemocratic.
I call again this week on the Leader of the House to have a full day's debate on the fishing industry. It is vital to have such a debate because over the past three months fishermen have suffered due to bad weather. If it was the farmers they would all be out shouting, but when it is the poor old fishermen nobody stands up for them. During the last three months of really bad weather boats have been tied to the pier and fishermen are not able to meet their financial commitments. The Minister should have our support in the negotiations in Europe at the beginning of April. There should be no further restrictions on quotas and the Irish box must be maintained for the Irish fleet and the Irish industry. I call for the debate as soon as possible.
I thank the leader of the Fine Gael side for referring to motion 32 in the name of the Independent Senators. It was phrased carefully in discussion with my colleagues and it reads:
That Seanad Éireann urges the Irish Government to press the UN to take whatever international measures, military, political, and economic, are necessary to protect the civilian population of Sarajevo; and to further the establishment of a lasting peace in Bosnia.
It is important that we have an opportunity to discuss this matter and I ask the Leader to give an indication as to when that discussion will take place. These matters have been discussed by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and there are five Members of this House on that committee. I hope, in the light the general support there would be, that we might discuss it at this juncture. There is a movement toward making a decision about air strikes.
I would also ask for an update on a matter about which I and other Members, on both sides, asked for a debate, that is, the drug problem in the inner city. The Cathaoirleach and the Leader will be aware that in the last couple of days statements have been made that there are up to 40 pushers selling drugs in one small area of the south inner city on any given day. It is a matter that should be discussed in this House.
I support the call to the Leader of the House for an early debate on Northern Ireland. The agenda has changed. This House should have the opportunity of sending a clear signal and expressing its support for the Downing Street declaration. If we do not have that debate or send that signal we are not representing those who elected us as a parliamentary body. We have to be seen to have a clear voice on this important national issue.
I would also welcome a debate on the former Yugoslavia. This issue was raised in the House last year. Now we face the possibility of air strikes to lift the siege of Sarajevo. It may be rather late for this House to debate the matter when this development is imminent. We may hear calls from outside that the wrong steps were taken. It is important that we debate the issue immediately, at least to give support for whatever actions are taken. Our Minister for Foreign Affairs would then know the views in this House.
The drugs issue should be debated in full. The problem has gone on for far too long and has not been properly addressed in this House. This morning I heard a former Member of this House support the legalisation of soft drugs and perhaps even harder drugs. Such call should be rejected immediately. Those views are not condoned by many. I ask the Leader to arrange for a debate on these two issues.
I support Senator Fitzgerald's call for a full day's debate on the fishing industry. It is probably our biggest national resource and it deserves our fullest attention.
On the drugs issue, I have urged for some time that a co-ordinated plan be put in place, with the co-operation of the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Defence and for the Marine, to protect our coastline from the importation of drugs. This would require a full day's debate. The point raised by Senator Norris shows that this issue has two aspects; first, the importation of drugs and second, the use and supply of drugs in local areas.
The history of this House shows it has led the way on Northern Ireland. It would be good if we could devote a large amount of time to a debate on this issue and how matters are progressing. At such a debate I would take the opportunity to put paid to the howls of derision and opposition from the Members opposite about certain measures undertaken. Sometimes those who oppose initiatives have a lack of vision and oppose the measures because they have no proposals to put forward. That debate should be held at the earliest date possible.
Finally, I call for a debate on another issue I raised previously. Because of mistreatment in the conduct of the criminal justice system in Britain, we should have a full debate on the Extradition (Amendment) Bill before it comes before this House.
We will continue to mention to the Tánaiste the requests made by several Members for a debate on Northern Ireland. I will return to the House with a more definite statement on the matter.
It is the intention of the Whip that a debate on Item 31 take place next Thursday. It is an important matter for all those interested in the west of Ireland.
Item 32, the Independent motion, was mentioned by Senator Manning. The Tánaiste attended an important meeting on this issue in Brussels during the week and we will have a discussion on it. I know the House would welcome the opportunity of even a short debate.
We would accept the Minister of State. The Tánaiste does not have to attend.
The Leader, without interruption.
Senator O'Toole and Senator Dardis mentioned the talks on a second Programme for Economic and Social Progress. The Chief Whip will arrange with the Opposition Whips to arrange such a debate.
The issue of the marine was raised by several Senators. I can assure the House that within the next few weeks we will be afforded the opportunity to discuss the matter.
I spoke this morning to the Government Chief Whip, Deputy Dempsey, about the programme of legislation. I will bring the information to the House next week if I do not have it tomorrow. Senator Dardis asked for more time tonight. Having listened to and read the Taoiseach's speech this morning, he will have ample opportunity tonight to discuss the issues he may wish to raise and to remind Members of the House of commitments and statements made over the years on various issues.
That is very positive.
The Leader, without interruption.
The Taoiseach gave an excellent political broadcast on the RTE news today.
Senator Enright, please.
Is that the best proposal?
With regard to the matter raised by Senators Norris, Crowley and Kelleher with regard to drugs, we will continue to ask for that debate. We will take the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Bill this afternoon. I am sure some of the Senators will find it an opportunity to raise the question of drug related issues.
Order of Business agreed to.